The best Halloween parties outside the downtown core

Let’s face it: everybody who’s anybody will be out on the town for Halloween—and the first port of call for many is the Granville strip. Whether it’s the Roxy’s Dead Cowboy evening, Caprice’s OWN Halloween, or Republic’s Asylum bash, Vancouver’s biggest clubs will offer plenty of stellar parties in one square kilometre.

For those who don’t fancy braving the downtown core this Halloweekend, however, there’s a number of alternative venues poised to throw open their doors. Halloween is a time for being adventurous, after all—so here are a number of unusual nights just waiting for you to don your cape, fangs, or sexy Ken Bone costume.

Zombie Motel: Four Room Halloween Party

Saturday, October 29 at the Waldorf Hotel, 1489 East Hastings Street

For more than 13 years, Vancouver’s Intimate Productions has thrown some of the most electrifying parties on the Gregorian calendar’s scariest date. This year hosting over 12 musical acts across the Waldorf’s four rooms, however, the collective has outdone itself. Leaving no space unfilled, the Tiki Lounge, Hideaway, Tabu, and Nonna’s restaurant (yes, even Nonna’s restaurant) will be bursting with disco, deep house and tech house, UK house and techno, and trip hop and soul. Plus early-comers will be treated to cheap drinks. That’s a W.

Dead Beats 16: Return to the Dark Side

Saturday, October 29 at Open Studios, 252 East 1st Avenue

Who cares if Halloween falls on a weekday this year? Not Open Studios, who are throwing an intimate, Star Wars-themed bash in their snug space on Saturday night. Featuring five of the city’s top underground DJs including Derrick Vnuk, Matthew Hudolin and Jenny Bass, partygoers can expect to hear some top-quality house and techno. And as long as you’re still sober enough to see straight, seminal VJs Bentmatter will be on hand to provide enough trippy visuals that you can confidently leave your acid at home. Be safe out there, kids.

VALoWEEN

Friday, October 28 at Vancouver Art and Leisure, 1965 Main Street

Promising local DJs, live performances, art instillations, specially curated rooms, drag queens, intimate spaces, and, perhaps best of all, “incredible freaks”, VALoWEEN has it all. Or at least most of it. Featuring two rooms of non-stop techno music spun by members of Subversive, UnderG, Bound by Sound and other first-rate crews, this Halloween party promises to go H.A.M. (That’s “hard as a motherfucker”, to you squares.) Now upgraded to include a brand new PK Sound system, Vancouver Art and Leisure’s VALoWEEN is destined to offer some of the crispest beats in the city.

The Monster Mash: Motown Halloween Party

Friday, October 28 at the Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main Street

What could be more spooky than spending the evening in an converted porn theatre? Nope, we’re not sure either. Presenting a special Halloween edition of the world famous dance party, this month’s Motown night is offering $1000 dollars to the best costumes that walk through the door. That’s one thousand actual real dollars. Even if you miss out on that rich bounty, however, we can’t think of a better consolation prize than shaking your skeleton to rare grooves from Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, and all their soul-filled friends. You’ll be sure to dance off that candy in no time.

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